Oklahoma City Thunder big man Nerlens Noel has undergone a procedure to repair a zygomatic arch fracture in his left cheek, according to Royce Young of ESPN.
Young adds that Noel will miss the team's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. Furthermore, his status will be updated next week.
In 38 games this season, Noel is averaging 8.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.1 steals over 18.9 minutes per game. He's also shooting 67.6 percent from the floor and 79.7 percent from the free-throw line.
Noel was originally selected by the New Orleans Hornets (now the Pelicans) with the sixth overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft. But he was immediately traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Because he was coming off of a torn ACL, Noel did not play at all the following season. But Noel made his debut during the 2014-15 campaign. He appeared in 75 contests and registering 9.9 points, 8.1 boards, 1.9 blocks and 1.8 steals across 30.8 minutes a night. Noel also converted 46.2 percent of his field-goal attempts and 60.9 percent of his foul shots.
The 25-year-old spent the first two-and-a-half years of his career with the 76ers. He was then traded to the Dallas Mavericks midway through the 2016-17 season. He spent parts of two seasons with the Mavericks, but didn't see much floor time.
Noel then signed with the Thunder during the summer of 2018 and proceeded to participate in 77 games last season. He recorded 4.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks over 13.7 minutes per game. He also connected on 58.7 percent of his shots and 68.4 percent of his free throws.
Oklahoma City is 27-19 on the season.
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